Sign letter



May 5, '1925.

- J. J.l H. MULLER SIGN LETTER Filed Feb. 1,2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l A 1 n @M Z VENT OR ATTORNEY May 5, 1925. 1,536,449

J. J. H. .MULLER S IGN LETTER Filed Feb. 12, 1925 zsheets-sheet 2 l 37 3a El lil 38 l2: a la INVENTOR IA 11,11 A" illuminated.

Patented May 5, 1925.

Unire sra-rss JOHN aussen HENRY MULLER. or NEWARK, New .Teaser sreN nnr'rnn,

T all whom t may concern.'

`Be it known that I, JOHN JRGEN HENRY lNIULLnn, a citizen of the United States, re siding at Newark, in the county. of Essex and State of Newklersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sign Letters, of which the `following; is a speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in sign letters, particularly tot-hose of a rcla- Y tively large size, arranged to be interiorly The main object of the invention is to produce a sign character' that can be read lat a considerable distance and at points lateral several characters.

ly remote from the front of the sign.

One of the objectional features of common illuminated signs is the di'liiculty of reading the sign unless almost opposite, due to the confusion of light rays and dazzling eiects of the lights.

It has therefore been an important pur-l pose to produce a sign character that can be readily distinguished, irrespective of inter vening space or angularity.

These objects are accomplished by the novel-construction, combination and arrangement -of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming aV material part of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a "front view ofasingle signilicant character' as used'on a sign made in accordance with the invention, parts be-` ing broken away to show the construct-ion..

Figure 2 is a bottomplan view of thesame, partially in section. I l

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vperspective view of a sign' showingthe disposition of Figure l is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially on linea-4e` Of i Figure 5 is a further enlarged fragmen-- rtary sectional view showing the construcstructure, generally designated byl11, the

same being provided withV a removablecover Application filed. February 12, 1923.f Serial No. 618,450. I "'"i i vmechanical ability well indicated by-the selected letter which discloses a pair of side panels 15 and lextending the full length of the letter upon its opposite outer sides,

i relatively short inner side panels 17- andlS rtranslucent panels, those on one side, as at the left of each letter and also the panels on top, being of one color, andvthose at the right and bottom of` another color.

For instance the panels 15, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 25 may be red, while the oppositely disposed panels, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24 and 26 may be blue.

Disposed over the front of each-character is a frame, generally designated by the numeral 29, shaped to conform to the outline or prolilerof the character and adapted to overlie the edges of the side frames before mentioned.

This frame carries a. translucent panel 3() preferably of frosted glass through which rays of light may pass. Y

' This frame may be held in position relative to the body of the letter by any preferred means as the posts 31, or hinges 32 and suitable clips, it being desirable to remove the face of the letter at times for the purpose `of adjustingthe lights, cleaning the interior and other reasons.

Disposed within the confines of the character, 'spaced parallel with thepanels, are opaque partitions 33 secured at their lower edges to the back plate l0 and having their upper portion 3a bent outward to make contact with the walls of the trame over the panels, thereby forming compartments 35 extending circumjacentlyvaround the entire letter. A

These partitions also have diagonal extensions 36 at their ends, the same being adapted to completely prevent the transmis'- sion of light :trom compartments covered by one color ot panel to those ot another color and also from the central compartments formed between the partition walls, these central compartments being the full width of the outer or cover panels 30, due

to the out-turned portions 34torp the partitions.

ithin these central spaces or compartments are arranged a plurality of lights, as the electric bulbs 38 the same being secured in sockets iixed on the back plate 1:0 and in connection with the wires 13.

Other similar lights 39 are disposed in the compartments 35 and are also in circuit with the wires 13, a switch (not shown) being provided on the cable lll for controlling the current, As an alternative type ot' construe tion, well within the scope opiv the invention, all oi' the several panels may be uncolored or plainly translucent, and the light bulbs made in any preferred colors, the same general color elfectbeing thus obtained.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when the lamps are energized, a person approaching from the lett will see the red panels disclosing the outline of the letter; when in front the panel 30 shows a white letter Aand when at the right a blue letter will be seen, blending into the other according to the angle at which the letter is viewed.

As a moditication, it is Jurther proposed to utili/,e the outer panels ot each letter in `the manner shown in Figure 3, illustrating the word Hat and having on the lower portion of the stems ot each letter an opaquev or translucent readily ,distinguished letter aOwhich .may be the same or wholly diii'erent as shown.

rllhus the word Hats, might read additionally to one approaching from the lett Mens and onl the opposite or right hand stems might appear thel word Here, giving a variety in color, meaning and combination at once novel and practical.

As changes of vconstruction could be made within the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing descriptionor shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not'in aflimiting sense.

Having thusdcscribed my invention, whatl claim as new and 'de-sire to secure by'Letters Patent, is l l. A sign character comprising a hollow 3. A sign character comprising a back plate, a translucent colored wall extending at a right angle from said plate enclosing the profile of a character, an opaque partition spaced interiorly said wall and at its outer edge connected therewith, lights within the intervening space between said wall and partition, other lights between said partition within the contines of the wall, and a translucent cover over said wall.

a. A sign character` comprising a bach plate, a translucent wall extending'at a right angle from said plate enclosing the profile ot' the character, said wall disclosing one color when viewed from one side of the character and a contrasting color from the other side, partitions spaced trom said wall, said partitions terminating below the lull height of the wall and extending' over the intervening space, lights in the mentioned space, other lights on the opposite sides oli said partitions, and a translucent cover over the entire space included between said walls. V 5. A sign comprising aback plate having one or more hollow bodies representing alphabetical characters, partitions in each body dividing the same into compartments in accordance with the character, said partitions being substantially parallel with the outlines of the character, transverse 'flanges 'from said partitions extending to the outer walls of the character, said outer walls being colored and translucent, lights in each compartment., and a translucent cover plate disposed over the character through which certain ot said lights show.

6. A sign comprising a back plate having one or more significant hollow bodies each consist-ing ofv translucent walls raised at right angles, said walls showing a definite color from one side and a different color from the other side of the same body, opaque partitions spaced, shaped and disposed to iorm compartments associated with each colored translucent wall, lights disposed in each compartment, a translucent cover over each body, means for removably engaging said cover, and means for energizing each of said lights.

7. A sign comprising a back plate having body, containing interior partitions and one or more significant hollow'bodies each lill partment, and an uncolored translucent 10 cover over each body.

This specilication-signed and witnessed this ninth day of February, 1923.

J. J HENRY MULLER.

Witnesses:

FREDK C. FISCHER. F. NOLL. 

